Washington (CNN) – Georgia Republicans have a nominee for governor after former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel conceded the GOP primary Wednesday to ex-Rep. Nathan Deal.
While less than 2,500 votes separated the two candidates in this primary runoff election, Handel told Deal late Wednesday morning that she would not request a recount as allowed under state law if the margin remained under one percent. As of Wednesday, the difference between Deal and Handel was 0.4 percent.
The telephone call, brokered by a mutual friend, lasted for about 10-15 minutes and Handel "said she would encourage her supporters to show the same excitement and enthusiasm for Nathan's candidacy as they did for hers," Deal spokesman Brian Robinson told CNN.
Handel, in a prepared statement released by her campaign, said she decided to forgo a challenge because it was important "to rally around Congressman Deal as our nominee in the fight against Roy Barnes.
"Barnes would return Georgia to a past that is best kept in our rearview mirror. We must marshal all of our resources to defeat him."
Roy Barnes is a former governor, who was the clear victor in the July Democratic primary.
The race made national headlines when several potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates weighed in on it. Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney endorsed Handel, while Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich backed Deal.
From CNN Politics
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Sarah Palin must stop endorsing candidates republican party must stay away from Palin
i think Handel would hav won, If she had not been endorsed by palin. yup ppl start to question ur inteligence.
Rough Night for the Mama Grizzly's....LOL
It goes to show that "support" from Sarah Palin can only hurt a candidate!
"I'm Sarah Palin. Another one of my endorsees just lost. I am death, but gosh darn, I know how to get people to make me money!!"
A true mamma grizz after Palin's own heart. Quitter.
another loss for Sarah too bad!!!
Surprise, Surprise! Another Palin backed candidate turns out to be a loser. Chalk another up for the Wasilla Wacko!!!
Another Sarah (Yosemite Sarah!) Palin Choice Bites The Dust, And Another Sad And Pathetic Excuse Not To Point That Fact Out Here At HypocriCNN!
Thank goodness for GA!!!! This woman too radical and a RINO!!!!
Poor baby!
Missed it by that much!
I am so glad Handel lost. I don't want anyone endorsed by Palin anywhere near my government.
OMG Caribou "Drill Baby Drill" Palin's and "Too Much Botox" Romney's endorsed candidate lost...looks like Republicans don't know who their leader is or what to do...good love it...
I guess she figures Deal is not the unethical snake she claimed him to be...lol
Hahaha. The shrieking cow was wrong again. Have a nice day!
Palin Rebuked! So may be now she will shut up.... yeah right.
It's Official with this loss:
We can now send Sarah Falin' packin' back to Alaska! Whoo-Hoo!!!
She has proven herself to be nothing more then a mouthpiece of what's wrong for America! Reality Style!!!
Georgians, in the tradition of that great state, will elect the candidate whose policies will reduce wages the most. Georgians are proud of their history of knuckling under to those who would exploit them. I'm sure they'll elect the Republican.
My state, Texas, can claim many great men and women: Houston (adopted), Sam Rayburn, Lyndon Johnson, and Ann Richards to name just a few. Georgia has only produced one: Jimmy Carter.
Lately, though, my Texas is just as disappointing as Georgia in its preference for mediocre (and worse) elected officials.
The Palin "Kiss of Death" for this Mama Grizzly, lol
Well, this tenure in office was even shorter than M'Lady Sarah, her godmother!
So much for the Mama Grizzly endorsement!! What a LOSER PALIN IS!!!!
Nice to see some Republics have Brains and do not follow Palin. Still look at the number that did. Any one that Palin endorses must be unfit for office....she Beck and Rush the evil Empire in America. If the Republicans get in it is the end of America as founded by our four -fathers they will do away with the middle class and we will be a nation of Very rich and the rest peasants
Here is what I have learned from the last 30 years of American history, when we give tax breaks to the wealthy they horde the money, large corporations keep moving jobs overseas and most new US based jobs come from small businesses. So is it any surprise that any time a bill comes up that would benefit small businesses republicans dig in their heels. If small businesses can start hiring, then the recession will end and the republicans will no longer be able to say what a horrible job Obama is doing anymore. Obama isn't doing a bad job the republicans are just wiling to hurt the whole country to make it look that way.
Another one that Palin liked GOES DOWN IN FLAMES...........Nice work Sarah!!!!!
...wasn't she one of Palin's "Mama Grizzlies"??? Hope they don't end up on the Endangered Species list.